"Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger, can I take your order?" It's no classic 90s action movie one-liner, but fans would be hard-pressed to find many more iconic comedy catchphrases than this legendary greeting by Kel Mitchel's All That character, Ed. For years, kids got the chance to watch Kel Mitchel and Kenan Thompson on the Nickelodeon channel, cranking their antics up to 11 and sustaining the fun for every minute they were on screen together.
Their comedic big-screen partnership culminated in the feature film Good Burger, which aired in 1997. Whether fans find it as enjoyable upon re-watch as they did two decades ago does not detract from its inherent charms and 90s appeal. As much as it tries not to date itself visually (despite the Blockbuster viewers can spot just outside the Good Burger window), one can't help but feel transported back to the time when oversized clothes and ska music were relevant cultural touchstones (as Oscar Isaac proved recently).
10 Ed's Iconic Hair Was Based On Milli Vanilli
It is well known that the character of Ed was born in Kel Mitchel's audition for All That, when he was asked to do various impersonations. According to an interview he did with the AV Club, though, the unforgettable look was born just before the shoot of the "Good Burger" sketch's debut.
Thanks to the international pop sensation Milli Vanilli, Ed's braids were born. Fuse them together with the pin-striped uniform, and the result is one of the lowest-effort yet greatest Halloween costumes of the millennial generation. There's so much nostalgia associated with Ed and this hairstyle that he might as well be carrying around a Nintendo 64 (that console was churning out fantastic titles during Good Burger's run) the whole movie.
9 It Was Filmed At Manny's El Loco In West Covina
Many fans may know where the cult classic movie was filmed. Sadly and surprisingly, though, Manny's El Loco (which had been in business since 1971) has officially closed its doors, due to the financial hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Good Burger fans who never got a chance to make a pilgrimage to this humble restaurant, take solace in the fact that its spirit lives on eternally, both on viewers' screens and in their hearts. With any luck, the storefront will not be bought out by a morally reprehensible fast food chain like Mondo Burger.
8 One Of Ed's Most Popular Lines Was Never Used
All viewers are familiar with the Good Burger employee greeting. It's both the first and last line of the movie. Further, just like Ed, every fan of the original sketch from the television show knows that it doesn't matter what a customer orders, "that'll be eight bucks" is the only appropriate response.
Sadly, fans were not treated with the opportunity to watch customers scrunch their faces in confusion when being told that the cost of their Good Shake was eight dollars. Thankfully, Kel and the writers gave the audience a whole slew of other memorable quotes, including the chorus to the movie's main song.
7 Kel Wrote The "We're All Dudes" Lyrics In Just One Day
That deliciously 90s track "We're All Dudes," on which Kel collaborated with ska band Less Than Jake, was written by the star in just one day at his Florida hotel. This is no small feat, considering that the song managed to chart on the radio (giving kids a feel-good summer anthem).
If there's one thing Ed taught viewers, it's the importance of looking past gender stereotypes and making an all-inclusive society in which everybody can comfortably embrace their inner selves. At the very least, hearing Kel's voice blasting over bright ska horns will transport listeners right back into a 90s arcade or convenience store for some Surge and Ring Pops.
6 There Were So Many Cameos
There are a significant amount of cameos in this movie, including several names that make fans wonder how in the world they were talked into it. The only one that could have pushed it into Anchorman level cameo territory would have been Arnold Schwarzenegger himself (not that he wasn't busy enough as it was in the 90s).
High profile cameo appearances were made by Carmen Electra, NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, George Clinton, Linda Cardellini, Sister Sister's Marques Houston, Sinbad, Hollywood veteran Abe Vigoda, and All That co-stars Josh Server and Laurie Beth Denberg. For a little Nickelodeon comedy, that's an impressive list of names.
5 Writer And Producer Dan Schneider Played Mr. Bailey
Good Burger manager Mr. Bailey may just give the funniest performance in the movie, and that's not surprising. After all, he is the writer/producer extraordinaire that gave Nickelodeon fans such hits as All That, Kenan and Kel, The Amanda Show, Drake and Josh, and iCarly, most of which are serious contenders for eventual reboots.
The man knows funny, and it shows in his performance. His character is the perfect mix of sorrowful bachelor unsatisfied by his work and endearing father figure. He is the avatar for the audience who watches on in horror/amazement/gleeful laughter at everything Ed does. It's always great to see the man behind the giggles step out in front of the camera.
4 It's The Only Nickelodeon Theatrical Release Based On A Live-Action TV Show
It's not a 1:1 copy of a live-action TV show (more of a sketch from a TV show), but it is the only one of its kind in Nickelodeon's film catalog nonetheless.
There have been plenty of theatrical movies based on animated series before and since, such as The Rugrats Movie(s), The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. In this sense, though, Good Burger still holds a very unique distinction.
3 The Burgermobile Was Used In Another Classic Comedy
Underneath its quirky exterior, the Good Burger delivery car is actually the Mirthmobile from the 1992 comedy Wayne's World, re-purposed for its role as a mobile hamburger. The car may have been over 20 years old at the time, but it is responsible for delivering as many 90s vibes as the likes of Mid90s and Girl Meets World.
Another interesting connection between Good Burger and Wayne's World is the fact that both films started as recurring bits on prominent sketch comedy shows. This is a rarity today, and just another quirk that makes both of these beloved movies so iconic.
2 Ed Pays Homage To The Goonies Via Ice Cream
It seems unbelievable, but according to IMDb, the scene in which Ed yells out ice cream flavors while hurling them from the back of the ice cream truck is an homage to the character Chunk in The Goonies.
The scene being referenced is the one in which Chunk happens upon a walk-in freezer full of ice cream... and a dead body. He gleefully reads off the names of the flavors while swiping them off the shelves, before the frozen corpse dangling from the ceiling swings around to reveal itself. A tenuous link, perhaps, but it's wonderful to see yet another nostalgic classic being subtly referenced.
1 There Was A Direct-to-Novel Sequel
It has been reported that Dan Schneider actually had an entire sequel script written out entitled Good Burger 2 Go, but Paramount turned it down. The full details of the situation are unclear (why a major studio would refuse the opportunity to make the sequel to a movie that grossed three times more than its original budget is a mystery), but it would surely have been a brilliantly silly treat too. Even a cheaply made animated version of this light-hearted duo, à la Beavis and Butt-Head (who are poised to make a comeback), would have sufficed.
Instead, a writer named Steve Holland was commissioned to turn the script into a novel. What a shame that the world was deprived of the chance to enjoy a Good Burger sequel. Rumors continue to swirl that there may be another movie, but in these uncertain times, it's no surprise that nothing is confirmed yet.